Update 2/23: Apparently the infamous Fake Steve Jobs has linked to this two-week-old post because of the little anecdote at the end, with an interpretation I didn’t quite expect. After all, the main purpose of “the wall” is to remind us how awesome the work we’re doing is by comparison. As always, Fake Steve is good for a laugh, although it’s a bit less enjoyable when you’re the one being picked on! ”Microtards?” Ouch. Of course, I think it should hardly be surprising that people in any business compare themselves to their competition. Can you imagine any place where that doesn’t happen?
David Morgenstern over the
Apple blog on ZDNet wrote yesterday and said:
Like the Japanese car in the Dearborn auto plant parking lot, Macs and iPhones must create problems for switchers working at Apple competitors as well as companies with a PC-or-die IT policy.
He then goes on to link to this very blog!
However, Microsoft appears to be okay with at least one of its employees running Vista on a MacBook in the office. Blogger Chris Pirillo pointed to Brandon Paddock, a self-described geek who works on search technology at Microsoft (but not in the Microsoft Mac Business Unit, where it’s okay to show up with Mac hardware and software, or at least it is at the “SVC,” the Silicon Valley Campus in Mountain View, Calif.).
It’s true, I’m a Microsoft developer (on Windows no less) with a Macbook. And an iPhone! I’m also rather fond of both of them.
I’m not the only one, either. I see as many iPhones as Blackjacks these days, maybe more. It’s really an awesome device and it doesn’t surprise me at all that geekier folk would pick one up.
I also wasn’t the first on the shell team with a Macbook. My friend David used to be an SDET on the team, but is now a PM. His primary machine is a first-gen black Macbook. I’m pretty sure I’ve seen at least one Macbook Pro in a nearby office, and my boss has an iMac at home.
Many of them are like me, and run Vista pretty much exclusively on them. I know some didn’t even keep the OS X partition around when they installed it. It’s neat to play with once in a while (and the VMware Fusion and Parallels stuff is getting really impressive), but not terribly useful for practical purposes, especially if your life revolves around building a competing OS.
If you do run OS X, you can even get it on our network, although some things like getting on the WiFi take a fair bit of extra work. Luckily there’s an IT help page that walks you through it.
But as I said, in my case it’s pretty much a PC. A stylish, well-put-together PC. I even recently put a Vista orb sticker on top covering the backlit Apple logo (which likes to shine through while it’s running, creating an eerie, ghostly effect). Not because anyone ever cared that I carried a Mac around, but because I’m very proud of the team I work on and what we do there. And it fits perfectly =)
If I haven’t mentioned it before, I love working at Microsoft. I love that I can carry a Macbook around to every meeting and have others think nothing of it. I love that others on the team are willing to look at, use, and sometimes even live with our main competitor’s product. I think it’s important to know what “the other side” is doing, and to understand what users are talking about when they make comparisons. I think it’s also important that we respect the great things they’re doing down there, and strive to do better if we see some area where they’ve got an edge on us.
Little tidbit on that note: One day a friend of mine on the team printed off a couple dozen screenshots of Leopard, showing off various tasks the user can do in OS X, and hung them on one of our hallways. Across from it are pictures of the same tasks in that incredibly well-kept secret of a project that we’re working on. There are post-it notes and markers next to each wall where passersby leave comments / questions.
I wonder if any hallways in Cupertino have something like that?
February 8th, 2008 at 5:21 pm
Why on earth would you install windows on a macbook =D Thats the same as models that smoke, pretty on the outside ugly on the inside!
I guess as you dev for microsoft its a neccessary part of the job, and the iPhone truly is a superb product. Stand up tall and proud, just dont shout apple rule in work
February 11th, 2008 at 12:41 pm
How does Vista work on a MacBook pro with that one button? I am an engineering student, I need a Windows partition for AutoDesk Inventor, and I’d like to be able to use it without a separate mouse sometimes. I currently have a Dell Inspiron 1520, but it is heavy and the quality, I think, really sucks, so I am going to work a little extra and save up for a MacBook Pro. I just wanted your opinion on how that would work.
February 19th, 2008 at 9:27 am
I do this too! I want a vista orb to cover my apple - how can I get one? (My MSDN subscription didn’t give me one ;-))
February 20th, 2008 at 10:10 am
just right now, I have 11 instances of conime.exe in task manager.
http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/3950/conimeexeaj4.jpg
Is this bug fixed in SP1?
please signal this bug to Microsoft, where you work. Thanks.
February 21st, 2008 at 7:41 pm
I’m with you. I really like Windows and the Vista operating system and have great fun on my Mac as well. Many people out there still do not realize that since OS 10X runs on intell and with Parellels you can have Vista or XP installed on your mac and run both operating systems at the same time. This works great for me bcause I have so much software that just won’t run on a mac. My sig has a link to an article I found that describes how the dual oses work together.
February 23rd, 2008 at 9:06 pm
Brandon,
Vista works fine on a MacBook Pro with one button. Just install the Boot Camp drivers that ship on the OS X DVD. Use two fingers on the trackpad to right-click anything, either in Vista or Leopard. Use two fingers to scroll on the trackpad.
I run Vista in Boot Camp, XP in Parallels, and OS X natively. No problems, although I use OS X 95% of the time.
February 24th, 2008 at 12:22 am
This is good to know. I was hoping that if I ever worked for Microsoft I could use a Macbook. It’s good to know they let their employees use what makes them most effective.
February 24th, 2008 at 1:16 am
“I love working at Microsoft. I love that I can carry a Macbook around to every meeting and have others think nothing of it.”
Dude. Trust me buddy, they are thinking this:
You will be assimilated!
February 24th, 2008 at 2:22 am
http://www.applegeeks.com/lite/index.php?aglitecomic=2006-04-26
about the different OSs
February 24th, 2008 at 3:21 am
Maybe you “didn’t quite expect” (sic) that interpretation, but maybe that’s how the rest of the world sees it.
February 24th, 2008 at 9:15 am
“I wonder if any hallways in Cupertino have something like that?”
Of course not, Apple would NEVER copy anything that someone else did first….
(cough - XEROX PARC - cough)
February 24th, 2008 at 9:26 am
Don’t kid yourself. I am the biggest tightwad on earth, and that abortion you call Vista is the thing that finally made me suck it up and fork over the money for a real computer and operating system, my lovely MacBook Pro. Good luck with the Yahoo merger.
February 24th, 2008 at 9:32 am
“Of course not, Apple would NEVER copy anything that someone else did first….
(cough - XEROX PARC - cough)”
Well, please remember that Apple PAYED for that stuff Xerox developed back then.. they didn’t STEAL it.. vapor..
February 24th, 2008 at 12:16 pm
Competitive analysis happens everywhere. As an OSX user, I’ll always be grateful to Microsoft for Cmd-Tab. I don’t use it much any more (big monitors, Virtual Desktops/Spaces, and Expose are usually more convenient), but it had its day.
That said, I’m surprised to learn that Apple is viewed as competition for the desktop OS space, within Microsoft. It doesn’t make economic (or regulatory) sense for Microsoft to scrap for the last 5% of the market.
February 24th, 2008 at 12:19 pm
[...] Brandon Paddock’s Blog - Desktop Search and more » Blog Archive » Macs at Microsoft? Why not… As to how Macs are being used in Microsoft… (tags: mac microsoft blog osx os-search) [...]
February 24th, 2008 at 7:56 pm
> (cough - XEROX PARC - cough)
Yeah, Apple took the raw concept from Xerox Parc and resolved it completely, developing a full-blown GUI incorporating many original ideas that have stood the test of time. Microsoft took the Apple GUI and developed an inferior copy that was just “good enough.”
What’s there to be proud about developing an operating system that your customers have rejected in favor of the older OS? Even so, XP has multimalware issues. Vista solved most of them by making the OS barely usable! And you’re proud!?
February 24th, 2008 at 8:27 pm
LeN99 - I didn’t really work on Vista to any significant degree. But you’re delusional if you think Vista isn’t selling well. There are obviously far more users of Vista than of any version of OS X, so it can’t be that bad =)
February 24th, 2008 at 11:44 pm
I must say that I’m impressed with the freedom Microsoft gives you in allowing you to use Apple products as your main development platform (albeit only the hardware that you’re using). I think that says a lot for a company that is all too often hated just cos everyone else says the same thing.
I’m a developer and I love the idea that that these days you can pretty much choose whichever product you want and for the most part they are compatible. It’s a great freedom we enjoy and I expect the integration and innovation from both companies to only get better.
Good on you..
February 25th, 2008 at 10:19 am
Man, you better don’t show your MacBook to Ballmer, otherwise he might throw some furniture at you. I guess the only thing worse than using an Apple product in Redmond is quitting Microsoft and start working for Google.
February 25th, 2008 at 4:59 pm
“I wonder if any hallways in Cupertino have something like that?”
Probably not something you should admit to, just shows how innovative the Apple folks can be, and seems to prove that most “cool” MS features are on the mac first, and pale on Windows anyhow. But I agree with your premise anyhow on the macbook, Microsoft isn’t a hardware company, so as long as you are running Vista, no one should care.
February 25th, 2008 at 5:03 pm
Brandon… be careful with the Vista argument. When you EOL existing OSes to make way for the new product, user’s don’t truly have a choice. But let’s compare apples to apples, shall we? Compare the percentage of mac users who are unhappy with leopard to the number of windows users who don’t like vista. That’s a number with significance. Microsoft may always dominate in market share, any apple fanboy or girl who says otherwise is living in a dream world. But Apple users are by far and away much more satisfied with product than their windows counterparts.
February 25th, 2008 at 5:57 pm
Brandon, also compare the percentage of the Mac user base that has upgraded to Leopard vs. the percentage of the Windows user base that has upgraded to Vista. Vista simply isn’t selling well. I don’t know a single person with Vista installed who hasn’t gone back to XP.
February 25th, 2008 at 6:08 pm
if you could install windows mobile on your iphone and wipe os x, would you?
February 25th, 2008 at 6:10 pm
“I wonder if any hallways in Cupertino have something like that?”
Well, there ARE versions of QuickTime, iTunes, Safari and some other stuff coming on the Windows platform, so there MUST be a division running on XP/Vista at Cupertino. TBH, I don’t know if they run on Macs, but they sure run the OS itself (which is what matters, as Jeff said).
February 25th, 2008 at 6:29 pm
Shipped with every Macintosh!
It is not on the machines as delivered, but the Development folder on the Mac OS X disks contains a S/W development environment. I had to buy a few books (Hillengass) to understand what I was doing, but was surprised how little I had to buy to be able to create OS X applications. I had not had such an experience since Turbo Pascal. It would be nice if Microsoft gave casual developers something this nice.
February 25th, 2008 at 6:54 pm
I know a developer at Msoft who said the pictures on the walls of a competitors products happens all the time. The big issue with that is that many of those products Microsoft didn’t have a competing product. This then leads to the inevitable “get your photocopiers started” jokes. He witnessed this during the photo story development. The group thad iPhoto plastered all over the walls.
February 25th, 2008 at 10:39 pm
” how awesome the work we’re doing is by comparison. ”
Oh, sure it is. Just like Scoble claimed that Aero was going to blow OS X away, right?
I wonder, do you clowns go to microsoft pre-deluded, or is there an intensive indoctrination program?
February 25th, 2008 at 10:54 pm
I don’t recall which Scoble post you’re referring to, as I haven’t taken the time to memorize them all and you didn’t provide a link.
However, I’d agree that Aero sure looks a heck of a lot nicer than Aqua.
February 26th, 2008 at 3:20 am
Rest assured, the hallways of Cupertino do not have any such thing.
Microsoft employees using Macs isn’t really news. Now if you caught an Apple employee who used a PC (and didn’t have to as part of his job), THAT would be news!
February 26th, 2008 at 9:38 am
[...] in this post on his blog, he discusses not only how Microsoft is looking at Leopard and copying features, but he [...]
February 26th, 2008 at 10:47 am
You said you see a lot of iPhones in the hallways. What about Zune’s? Have you seen any? Does the office refrigerator let you know when you’re running low on milk like Bill G. demonstrated a few years ago? That would be awesome!!!
Oh, yeah - Developers, developers, developers, developers, developers, developers, developers, developers!
February 26th, 2008 at 1:08 pm
Yup, lots of Zunes around. I use a Nano, and even explained to J Allard why I do. It’s entirely because of the Nike+ pedometer. If the Zune had that, I’d definitely have picked it over the Nano. Partly because it’s a better device (FM radio is great for the TVs at the gym, for example) and because the Zune 2 software kicks iTunes’ ass. I’m not a fan of iTunes in the slightest, except for their downloadable video selection.
February 26th, 2008 at 1:33 pm
windows? what is windows?
February 26th, 2008 at 2:00 pm
Props on the good job at an awesome company, but many lulz at you for being proud of something like Vista. How much are they paying you to believe in that thing? Actually, never mind.
February 26th, 2008 at 2:42 pm
[...] como su equipo principal, y obviamente, usa más el sistema operativo de su empresa. Sin embargo, en un post ha dicho que se está usando Leopard como una comparación para ver lo que se puede lograr con un [...]
February 27th, 2008 at 4:37 am
[...] all point and laugh: the folks at Microsoft use Macs! Because, you know, they make Windows, and Macs aren’t Windows, and Microsoft and Apple are [...]
February 27th, 2008 at 11:39 am
So Brandon, let me get this straight — You use a MacBook, and iPhone, then you let slip you use a Nano too (but would use a Zune ’cause of its ‘cool’ radio feature). Dude!
It’s like the guy who has a few drinks and finds himself at gay clubs, but then claims he’s not gay. Embrace your inner Mac fanboy (in a platonic sense, of course).
Also, as you must well know, the ‘we’re selling more copies of Vista therefore it’s a better system” argument is pure bunk. You’re selling more copies of Vista to corporations who are forced to upgrade, though note all the stories about companies delaying implementation.
Meanwhile stories of switchers thrilled with their new Macs proliferate.
Does Cupertino have a wall where they’re trying to emulate Vista? Sure they do, Brandon. Sure they do.
February 28th, 2008 at 12:21 am
Yeah why? i understand if you use os x primarily but vista? we all know macs are overpriced.. you can get a same spec pc laptop for half the price.
February 28th, 2008 at 10:01 am
I use use Red Hat…Another world
February 28th, 2008 at 10:02 am
I use RedHat….Another world
February 29th, 2008 at 7:49 am
[...] como su equipo principal, y obviamente, usa más el sistema operativo de su empresa. Sin embargo, en un post ha dicho que se está usando Leopard como una comparación para ver lo que se puede lograr con un [...]
March 6th, 2008 at 9:27 pm
Mac’sucks sooo bad, plus no real geek uses Apple man WTF??? the world is driven by Bill and that’s just how it will be forever….
Btw..Of course nobody cares if u bring a Mac to work at Microsoft…u now y? CUZ BILL OWNS MOST OF THE STOCKS FOR APPLE. The only reason y Bill don’t just squash this litlle pretensious stupid company like a bug in a windshield is cuz if he does, he’ll have something called MONOPOLY….
Live with this one MACTARDS!!!!! Buy a Mac Bill say tks beotche
March 12th, 2008 at 7:56 pm
[...] all point and laugh: the folks at Microsoft use Macs! Because, you know, they make Windows, and Macs aren’t Windows, and Microsoft and Apple are [...]
March 21st, 2008 at 3:15 am
“If you do run OS X, you can even get it on our network, although some things like getting on the WiFi take a fair bit of extra work. Luckily there’s an IT help page that walks you through it.”
whaaaaat? I’ve never seen any easier way to get on WiFi than with OS X, with windows it use to be a lot trouble though.
But it’s cool you like good hardware
April 14th, 2008 at 1:48 am
Leave him alone. He’s allowed to have a choice. I have several Macs & many more PCs. They both have their place and time. That’s what is so great about the world we live in… you have the option to use one or the other or like lots of us both. They are both great in their own respective genres.